1 Firefighter Dead, Another Injured In Worcester Fire

Worcester officials and residents are mourning the loss of a firefighter Thursday, in what has become a reminder of the 1999 warehouse blaze that killed six Worcester firefighters.

Firefighter Jon Davies and his partner, Brian Carroll, went into the burning triple-decker at 49 Arlington St. here early Thursday morning, believing that someone was still inside. Once they entered, the building collapsed, trapping both of them for about an hour. Davies was killed, and Carroll is hospitalized in stable condition.

Davies is a 17-year veteran of the Worcester Fire Department who leaves behind three sons, one of whom is serving in Afghanistan. Carroll has been with the department for 14 years.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with their families," Worcester Fire Chief Gerard Dio told reporters at a news conference. "I talked with him (Carroll) earlier and he seems to be OK. I would say the outlook is positive."

Neighbors said this was one in a series of fires in vacant triple-deckers in the area, fires started after thieves stole copper piping from the buildings. But Dio says this building was not condemned and there were 12 tenants living there at the time. Fire officials still don't know what started Thursday's fire.

On Dec. 3, 1999, six Worcester firefighters were killed after they became trapped while battling a warehouse fire. A memorial to the "Worcester 6," as they're now known, is just behind the fire station where chief Dio spoke to reporters Thursday.